Lady Gaga to play Cilla Black in Dionne Warwick biopic

Lady Gaga is set to play the late British star Cilla Black in a biopic about 'Walk On By' singer Dionne Warwick

Lady Gaga is set to play Cilla Black in a biopic about Dionne Warwick's life.

The 'Bad Romance' hitmaker has been cast as the late British star - who passed away last year from a stroke at the age of 72 - in a movie based on the 'Walk On By' singer's rivalry with Cilla in her early years from 1962 to 1968.

The 75-year-old singer announced the news at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday (13.05.16) and called Cilla, who had a prolific music career with two number one singles including the hit 'Anyone Who Had A Heart' - which was originally written for Warwick - her "nemesis" who "stole my music".

She said: "She stole my music, and I was not a very happy camper about that. Over the years, we grew up and understood each other. It all got cleared away."

Despite their professional rivalry, Dionne insisted Cilla would not be treated as a "villainess in the picture", which is simply titled 'Dionne'.

The 'I Say A Little Prayer' hitmaker added that Gaga, 30, was "an easy choice" for the part and "wanted to" play her famed 60s rival in the film based on her memoirs 'My Life, As I See It: An Autobiography'.

Dionne will be portrayed by the "brilliant" LeToya Luckett - who was an original member of Destiny's Child with Beyoncé Knowles - and 'Lethal Weapon' star Danny Glover will play her father.

Elsewhere, Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis is to star as Marlene Dietrich, a woman Dionne describes as a beloved mentor.

During her music career, Cilla was championed by fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles and after she stepped away from being a recording artist she transitioned to TV presenting the hugely popular prime time shows 'Blind Date' and Surprise Surprise' in the UK.